For Sale : Air Command Gyro

[tjs45]

1980's Air command gyro. Suzuki 530cc 86HP engine w/Rotax gearbox.
New everything. 24' Dragon wings w/new hub bar. Instrument pod w/
airspeed, altimeter, Rotor tach, engine tach, EGT, and CHT. Hegar alum.
wheels and brakes. New tires. Redundant mast. 3- blade warp drive prop (68"). Completely restored last spring. $6,900 or best offer.
Contact: Todd Skinner 260-693-2490 e-mail : tjs45@verizon.net
See attached pic's (pic's are also posted at : www.tjs45.cnc.net)
p.s. Has Wunderlich prerotator.
Located in Northern Indiana

[quadrirotor]

Can you show the jonction between the gear box and the engine?
Thanks.

[tjs45]

The gearbox mounting to the engine was accomplished by using a custom machined aluminum adapter plate. I will take digital pic's tonight and post them tomorrow. tjs45

[tjs45]

Pic's of the gearbox mounting plate and instrument panel are also posted at : www.tjs45.cnc.net

[GyroRon]

Is this Gary Safrits old Aircommand?

[tjs45]

Yes, I purchased the gyro from Gary in Nov. 2002. I stripped it down to the frame and completely rebuilt it. It's as good as new. I don't have the time to get proper training so I am selling it.

[GyroRon]

Maybe you could describe what you did to it as part of the rebuild. A lot of people know that gyro and it's history.

[scottessex]

Is the history good? Just wondering, as I have the same engine combo, to replace the Arrow on mine. I sure would like to see more engine/radiator/exhaust pics.

[tjs45]

I completely disassembled the gyro and sanded, primed, and painted the frame with special primer and I used automotive acrylic enamel semi-gloss paint to paint the frame. I replaced the landing gear legs, and nosegear mounting plates with new parts from Air Command. I replaced the original wheels and tires with Hegar units utilizing a custom made adapter for the wheel to space it properly with the original brake caliper. The original instrument panel was disassembled and I made a new plate out of aluminum for the instruments. I also made a new wiring harness. I sent the 24' Dragon wings blades that came with the machine to Ernie Boyette and he made a new hub bar for them. He also tracked, balanced, and test flew the blades. I replaced EVERY piece of hardware on the machine with new AN hardware.
The engine was running well when I bought the machine and all the inspections I did showed no appreciable wear. It runs very strong with no problems. There are many other details that are too numerous to list. Gary (original owner) saw the machine at Mentone last year and thought it looked like new. I am a Toolmaker by trade and also a perfectionist when it comes to anything mechanical, so I probably overdid it a little! If anyone wants to see more pic's let me know and I will e-mail them to you. tjs45:)

[GyroRon]

No as far as I could tell Gary got good service from the Suzuki. Surprised the conversion isn't more popular. the history on Garys machine is just a few bang ups. Gary took good care of it though. I would just like to know what the full tear down to the frame and rebuild consisted of.

[GyroRon]

Whoops my reply came in right after yours. Sounds like you did a decent job rebuilding it. Did you change out the rotorhead bearing? The bushings in the controls? Any of the hardware in the rotorhead?

Send me some pictures.

[tjs45]

Yes, the rotorhead bearing was changed along with all the hardware. The controls were completely rebuilt also with custom made bushings and new hardware.

[gyrodude]

That gyro has over the years has gone through many hands. I'm not positive but I believe that Duane Hunn Owned it at one time And Tommy Milton did the Suzuki conversion.
I saw the machine at Mentone this summer and it is better than a new ship with many fixes to some of the problems of the earlier Air Commands.
Anyone interested in a really nice AC should check this one out.